The Absolute Center

“They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” (John 1:21-23)

John the Baptist is not the only person God called to be a voice crying out in the wilderness. Such is the enormous privilege and responsibility is given to everyone who calls Jesus Lord. For example:

“Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

And 1 Peter 2:9  “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Our Savior has entrusted us with the gospel – the good news of God’s love and His offer to forgive even our most egregious sins.

But, we cannot be fruitful with what He has entrusted us if we cubbyhole our faith to one day a week. If our devotion to Christ does not direct our affairs Sunday through Sunday, if our faith is not the cornerstone of what we say and how we act in the home, the workplace, the classroom, the supermarket, the ball field – then perhaps what we have is not faith in Christ at all.

Perhaps it is better described as a hobby.

There is only one way to fix that serious flaw: Prayer, followed by confession and a decision to, with God’s help, make Jesus the absolute center of our life.